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The Establishment of the Bhikshuni Order in India

Alexander Berzin, August 2007

Buddha himself ordained the first monks simply by reciting the words, “
Ehi bhikkhu (Come here, monk).” When a sufficient number of monks had been ordained in
this manner, he instituted ordination (bsnyen-par rdzogs-pa, Skt.
upasampada, Pali:
upasampada) by the bhikshus themselves.

According to many traditional accounts, Buddha at first refused, however, when his maternal
aunt, Mahaprajapati Gautami (Go’u-ta-mi sKye-dgu’i bdag-mo chen-mo,
Skye-dgu’i bdag-mo, Pali:
Mahapajapati Gotami), requested him to ordain her as a nun. Nevertheless, Mahaprajapati,
together with five hundred women followers, shaved their heads, donned yellow robes, and followed
him as homeless renunciates (rab-tu ‘byung-ba, Skt.
pravrajita, Pali:
pabbajita). When she asked for ordination a second and then a third time and was again
refused, Buddha’s disciple Ananda (Kun-dga’-bo) interceded on her behalf.

With this fourth request, Buddha agreed on the condition that she and future nuns observe eight
weighty restrictions (lci-ba’i chos, Skt.
gurudharma, Pali:
garudhamma). These include the seniority rank of nuns always being lower than that of the
monks, regardless of how long the monk or nun vows were kept. Buddha instituted such restrictions
in conformity with the cultural values of India at his time, in order to avoid disrespect by
society for his community and, consequently, for his teachings. He also did so to protect the nuns
and ensure them respect from the laypeople. In ancient India, women were first under the
protection/supervision of their fathers, then their husbands, and finally their sons. Single women
were thought to be prostitutes and there are many cases in the Vinaya of nuns being called
prostitutes simply because they were not under the protection of a male relative. Affiliating the
bhikshuni sangha with the bhikshu sangha made their single status respectable in the eyes of
society.

According to some traditions, accepting the eight garudhammas constituted this first ordination.
According to other traditions, Buddha entrusted the initial ordination of Mahaprajapati and her
five hundred women followers to ten bhikshus, under the leadership of Ananda. In either case, the
earliest standard method for ordaining bhikshunis was by a group of ten bhikshus. This manner of
ordination is commonly known as “single bhikshu sangha ordination” (pha’i dge-’dun rkyang-pa’i bsnyen-par rdzogs-pa). The ordination procedure involves asking
the candidates a list of questions concerning impediments (bar-chad-kyi chos, Skt.
antarayikadharma, Pali:
antarayikadhamma) she may have that might hinder her from keeping the full set of vows. In
addition to the questions asked in common with candidates for bhikshu ordination, these include
further questions concerning her anatomy as a female.

When some bhikshuni candidates expressed extreme discomfort at answering such personal questions
to monks, Buddha instituted the “dual sangha ordination” (gnyis-tshogs-kyi sgo-nas bsnyen-par rdzogs-pa). Here, the bhikshuni sangha first asks the
questions regarding the candidate’s suitability to become a bhikshuni. Later that same day, the
bhikshuni sangha joins with the bhikshu sangha to form a joint assembly. The bhikshu sangha gives
the ordination, while the bhikshuni sangha serves as witnesses.

At first, the vows for the monastic community included avoiding only the “naturally
uncommendable actions” (rang-bzhin kha-na-ma-tho-ba) – the physical and verbal actions that are destructive for
everyone, whether lay or ordained. For ordained persons, however, these included the vow of
celibacy. As time passed, Buddha promulgated an increasing number of additional vows, regarding “
prohibited uncommendable actions” (bcas-pa’i kha-na ma-tho-ba) – physical and verbal actions that are not naturally
destructive, but are prohibited only for ordained persons in order to avoid disrespect by society
for the Buddhist monastic community and Buddha’s teachings. Only Buddha has had the authority to
promulgate such prohibitions. The nuns received more additional vows than did the monks, because
each additional vow was established after a specific incident involving the improper behavior of a
monk or nun. The nuns’ vows include those established based on improper behavior of nuns in their
interaction with monks, while the monks’ vows do not include reciprocal stipulations.